The United States Is In Trouble

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our country is in trouble. This simple sentence sums up a most profound circumstance in which all of us have a stake. The United States presently finds herself in one of the most incredible crises of her 235 year history. Unless something happens soon to change our chartered course, we will find ourselves in the land of other failed nations and empires.

Most would consider our current economic malaise as reason for a bleak outlook ahead, but the reality of our situation is much more than simple economics. Our country has lost its collective soul, and unless we soon find God, we will soon find His wrath. One thing we know with certainty is that God does not show favor to those nations which deny Him. America has denied God's authority for a number of years but only recently has she been so bold as to completely deny Him. No longer is God revered in the public square, entreated in public discourse or honored as the source of our blessing. We have become a proud people who believe ourselves responsible for our own success and capable of our own rescue. We are led by those who deny God's existence in their own day and attempt to deny the confession of our founding fathers in their day as well.

Reverence begins with the house of God. Our churches need only blame themselves for the lack of respect and honor paid to her God in the public square. In times past even the godless dared not ridicule, belittle or deny the Christian God for fear of the ire of His church. Today, such respect is no longer afforded to those who profess faith. Presidential candidates who publicly speak of their love for Christ are ridiculed and thought unfit to lead. The public instead extols the greatness of those who would live in a pluralistic society under the banner of relativism. We bought into the lie of Satan and adopted the idea that faith was a private matter, unfit for polite conversation, and thereby lost our voice in the public square.

Today we are told the White House is preparing for the downgrading of our national credit rating. Our kids will find it far more difficult to enjoy the same level of economic prosperity we have enjoyed in our lifetime. Iran is soon to have atomic weapons, China literally owns huge sums of America as she funds large amounts of our debt. We are facing a future filled with uncertainty and instability on all sides.

The popular culture today celebrates immorality as normalcy. No longer are people embarrassed by their sin for it is championed as righteousness. We are literally living a Romans 1 existence; right is wrong, wrong is right, up is down and down is up. Our children are assaulted on every front as the most perverse of sins are now being taught in our schools as normal human behavior. Those who champion decency and righteousness are in turn ridiculed and called bigots.

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised by the assault on our beliefs by those who do not follow Christ. Jesus said we would face hardship and tribulation in this life. But, He also said He has overcome the world. We do not have to lay down and watch the destruction of this nation. We do not have to acquiesce and watch her torn apart by those who would sacrifice her to the powers of darkness. Greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world. Satan has lost the war for our souls and he can lose the battle for the future of the United States of America as well.

It is time that we, the church, humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, turn from our wicked ways and ask God to heal our land...

James